the team

Simon Buck

Born in New York, Simon’s Kiwi parents brought him back to Wellington, New Zealand when he was 10 months old. In his twenties, wanderlust struck, and Simon left home to discover the world. Jobs in wine shops and amongst vines sustained him through most of his journey. When he accepted a job with one of the longest-standing importers of New Zealand wines, he realized his destiny was to bring the purest expressions of international winemaking to the country of his birth. Simon was instrumental in introducing the first top-quality New Zealand wineries to the U.S. including Dry River and Te Mata Estate. Following the successful launch of the Tablelands brand, he and Magnus Riddiford founded Wine Dogs Imports to continue this mission. Today, Simon focuses on managing logistics, overseeing compliance and (happily) serving as Chief Tasting Officer.

Magnus Riddiford

Roots run deep for the Riddiford family in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand, and that legacy continues today. Magnus grew up in the town of Martinborough in the 1980s and watched his hometown blossom into the wine capital it is today. Witnessing this transformation firsthand, Magnus moved to New York with the goal of furthering the growth of the New Zealand wine industry abroad. After distributing international wine brands for several U.S. companies, Magnus had the good fortune of meeting Simon Buck in 2009. Together, they built the Tablelands brand, and as that brand grew, the idea of Wine Dogs Imports became a reality. Today, Magnus focuses on opening new markets and driving sales, as well as developing new brands and products.

Emily peters

Emily developed a love for hospitality early in life due to a childhood spent in her family’s restaurant. Also possessing a keen interest in photography, antique kilims and design, she pursued these passions until serendipitously meeting Magnus and Simon at a wine tasting. She had always considered wine an art form in itself because of its myriad expressions, enhanced by thoughtful winemaking. She listened to her heart, requested, and was given a job on the spot! Emily is currently studying for the WSET Diploma to further her wine education. She handles day-to-day operations for Wine Dogs Imports, which includes assisting with branding, sales, general coordination, managing social media and more.

Jennifer Van Buren

Despite receiving degrees in criminal justice and psychology from American University, Jennifer’s heart (and palate) led her to the food and wine haven of New Orleans following graduation. There, she immediately immersed herself in the restaurant scene. She nurtured her love of wine by accepting an office job for a boutique importer, which quickly grew into a national sales role. When Hurricane Katrina forced that business to close, Jennifer relocated to Denver. After two brief stints with similar companies (one that fortuitously resulted in her meeting her now-husband), she found her home for the next seven years with New Zealand wine importer, Station Imports, based in southern Colorado. In early 2017, Jennifer joined Wine Dogs Imports and now helps with opening new markets.